The Truth about Sexting

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In this modern world of digital technology, people have managed to infuse modern tools in promoting sexual behavior. Some use this to keep the fire burning in long distance relationships, other who engaged in multiple partnerships, with both genders, used this as a form of self-advertising and teens have used this as a coming of age entry to more serious sexual behaviors. What am I talking about? Sexting.

What is sexting anyway? Sexting is a combination of two words: Sex and texting. It is defined as the act of sending sexually explicit messages and/or photographs, primarily between mobile phones. This means sending an explicit text message accompanied with a sexually suggestive image. The term was first coined in an article back 2005 in the Sunday Telegraph Magazine. The term sexting has since been used in countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the United States. In a survey conducted by Cosmogirl.com, it showed 20% of teens within the age range of 13-20 and 33% of young adults within the age range of 20-26 have admittedly sent naked or semi-naked pictures to the opposite sex. For teens, it has become a prelude to sex or experimentation for the ones without real experience.

This form of behavior has alarmed many parents across nations and cultures. In the United states, teenagers who have sent a naked photographs of themselves have been charged with distribution of child pornography, while the individuals who received the naked photograph through sexting was charged with possession of child pornography.

Watching nude/semi-nude images/videos of partners.

Psychologists have concluded that sexting, as a behavior will later on create mental instability in the teens who have engaged in such activities, having to face the consequences of their actions later in life. In Canada, they are pushing a no-sexting act, to compel Internet and telephone companies to hand over personal customers’ information to law enforcement agencies for cases of sexting involving minors which is classified under the law as child pornography. The risks are widespread, with the use of social media, due to the easy propagation of the materials online. In recent a sexting awareness parent study, it shows 61% of parents worry that it will result to cyber bullying among teenagers. It shows that parents who are aware of sexting are more likely to talk about the issue to their children as compared to those who are not open to discussion. Also, parents who are aware of sexting are more aware of the legal consequences as opposed to the parents who are unaware of it.

According to survey, 15% of parents admitted that they do not understand and are unaware of the potential dangers associated with sexting. Parents now have increased awareness of what it is and how it can affect the lives of their teens in the long run. Parents, who are aware of the issue, are now more open to talking to their children about the truths concerning Sex.Ting.